Indians gain ground with 2-1 win over A's

Tuesday

Aug 30, 2011 at 12:01 AMAug 30, 2011 at 8:48 AM

CLEVELAND - Kosuke Fukudome knows the Cleveland Indians are in must-win mode in the American League Central race. The outfielder, acquired a month ago to help the injury-plagued Indians, drove in the first run in a 2-1 win over the Oakland Athletics tonight that helped the Indians close to 5 1/2 games of first-place Detroit.

CLEVELAND — Kosuke Fukudome knows the Cleveland Indians are in must-win mode in the American League Central race.

The outfielder, acquired a month ago to help the injury-plagued Indians, drove in the first run in a 2-1 win over the Oakland Athletics tonight that helped the Indians close to 5 1/2 games of first-place Detroit.

The Tigers lost 9-5 at home tonight to the Kansas City Royals.

“We have to win every single game and not worry about other teams,” Fukudome said through an interpreter after Cleveland’s third win in four games.

Carlos Santana added his 20th homer for a 2-0 lead. Then David Huff and four relievers combined to limit the Athletics to five hits to help the Indians improve to 17-8 at home in one-run games this season.

Huff (2-2) gave up three hits over six scoreless innings to win for the first time in six starts. The left-hander hadn’t pitched in nine days.

“I was a little jittery at first,” said Huff, who threw 40 pitches over the first two innings. “It kind of felt like the first game of the season or something because I had not worked. Then I got into a groove with my fastball and was able to throw strikes.”

Chris Perez struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 30th save in 34 chances as Oakland lost for the fourth time in five games.

“I try to do that every time, but sometimes I’m not as lucky,” Perez said. “I’d like to have 75 of these a year.

“Winning the first game of this series is big. We have four games against a team we should beat and we need to beat. We have to take advantage of every game.”

Santana’s home run came in the seventh against Brandon McCarthy (7-7), who lost for the second time in nine starts since July 15. It was only the eighth homer allowed by the right-hander and seventh without a runner on base. He struck out a career-high 10 in his third complete game this season, all losses.

“It’s either some sort of statistical fluke or I’m giving up runs when I shouldn’t be,” McCarthy said. “It’s a bittersweet feeling. I want to get deep into games and getting a complete game is a point of pride, but doing it and giving up too many runs isn’t something I’m thrilled with.”

Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in the sixth. Ezequiel Carrera lined a two-out single to center and scored from first on Fukudome’s double into the right-field corner.

“A big hit there and a good slide,” Indians manager Manny Acta said.

Oakland’s Kurt Suzuki took the relay throw from second baseman Jemile Weeks on the first-base side of the plate, but Carrera swiped the plate, eluding the catcher’s lunging tag.

The Athletics broke through in the eighth against relievers Joe Smith and Tony Sipp.

Scott Sizemore lined a leadoff double off Smith. Sipp came on and Sizemore stole third. Weeks followed with an RBI double to make it 2-1.

After Coco Crisp failed to advance Weeks with a bunt, Hideki Matsui backed Fukudome against the wall in right field with a fly ball that sent Weeks to third.

Vinnie Pestano replaced Sipp and got Josh Willingham on a called third strike to strand Weeks. Willingham slammed his batting helmet to the ground after umpire Rob Drake made the call on a pitch that appeared low and outside of the strike zone.

“A huge out by Vinnie,” Acta said. “And (catcher) Santana looked Weeks back to second on the bunt. Big play because then Matsui hit that fly ball.”& amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; lt; /p>

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